Cosplay vs. Costumer

I've been asked this question many times over the years and I think I've finally come up with an answer that satisfy me. Will it sit well with everyone? Probably not, but I'm not here to please everyone.

When I get contacted to create a costume, I have a few questions that I always ask:
1) When do you need it by?
2) What's your budget?
3) Is this for cosplay or costume work?

That last question throws people for a loop. "Isn't it all the same?" or "What's the difference?" are the responses I usually get. Now, I've been in the costuming world for many many years and this is a huge divide. For me it's plainly this: attention to detail and accuracy. If you just want something that looks like the character--or a version of the character, then its cosplay. Entry level stuff. If you're aiming to look like you've jumped off the screen/page and are aiming for one specific look, then it's being a costumer.

I am a costumer. I HATE the word cosplay. I will build you a cosplay outfit, no sweat, but if you want a costume, then it's going to take more time and money. I will try and make sure that you look like you're ready for the screen or the image you give me will pop into real life.

This is the short answer, but it's just that. I am NOT a cosplayer. I am a Costumer.

When I ask you a load of questions, please understand that it is my way to figure out how much time and money you want to put into this piece of clothing. Don't take offense at it. If you do, then perhaps I'm not the costume designer you're looking for.

Building Ewoks

Okay, so I don't like being in front of the camera all that often. I'll do stage work, but I don't like cameras. Don't know why, but they just make me all squirmy.

A friend is a producer of a morning television show locally an asked me to come on and do a quick demo of how to create an Ewok from an old teddy bear. Here's the video. Ignore the fact that I'm completely awkward:

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/5867355

Slacking off

Yes, in a way I feel that I am slacking off with not posting here. I post more to the Facebook page than I do here. Sorry! (hopefully you're following me on Facebook too so you can get the updates needed).

I haven't been actively sewing for a while. I had an issue on the floor where my sewing room is and we still haven't completely gotten it together yet. I sew when I can and when I move things around, but that room is getting ridiculous. It will be getting redone this winter break (hopefully) so I will have some embarrassing photos to post here soon of the room I used to work in. But I am still trying to decide: hardwood floors or carpet. Hmm......

As far as planned projects, research is in full swing on 5 of them: Arwen's Blood Red Gown from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, a couple of custom Jedi, a Jedi Temple guard from The Clone Wars, and a couple of experimental little girl dresses. I also learned a new way to make pillow cases, so that'll probably be taking up a lot of my scraps that I've got laying around. I love having extra pillow cases. They make great spur of the moment gifts....not that I'm saying that I procrastinate on gifts for my friends or anything. :/

But keep an eye out both here and on the Facebook pages. I'll be doing updates when I can.

Stay tuned!

I'm on Facebook now!

So after a few people bugging me about stuff, I've finally bit the bullet and created a Facebook page for this business. It'll be just another avenue to showcase what I'm doing and what I've got in the works.

Check it out!

Black Rose Costume Design Facebook Page

Split Back vest/jacket

I'm not 100% sure what to call it, but this has been sitting on my dress form for a couple of months now. . .and I'm not sure how I want to close it in the front. I think I may make it a hidden closure so the outside can be used for multiple things.

It was made with fabric that I just had in the stash and I wanted to see how it sewed before using it on anything else, so I made this jacket. . .vest. . .whatever. The fabric has a double weave, which is what I call it when it looks like one color one way, and another color the other way. It is red/gold or green/gold depending on how its held. The inside lining is a mossy green (you can see it on the collar piece). It is based on a design from a T.V. show and then my own ideas. I wasn't sure how it would all come together and I'm not 100% sold on the collar (I wish I would have made it detachable) but I'm happy that at least it is done enough. Now to figure out what to pair it with.

New Year. . .

Yeouch. I didn't realize that I hadn't posted in forever on this. . . not that too many people are looking anyway. But the end of 2013 was difficult. I stopped almost completely with doing projects. I literally didn't touch my sewing machine from October 2013 until January 2014.

Was it because I didn't have any ideas? No way. I've always got ideas and styles running through my head. I've got post it notes and sketch books full of little things or details that I would like to see posted somewhere else.

Was it because my machines had a melt down? Possibly. I've been sewing with the same machine for 5 years now, but before that I had a machine that had been working and working hard for almost 25 years. I learned how to sew on that thing. It made it through a bunch of leather and pleather projects before I knew that it couldn't do that; yet it kept on working. Unfortunately, it started having issues about 5 years ago and the repair man that I took it to wasn't too sure about fixing it. Since most people have moved on to newer machines, he hasn't had to keep up his skill in making the older ones keep on ticking. So I set it aside and started sewing on a newer machine. Now that one started having issues in November, so I bought another one just like it. It is still in the box---just opened to make sure all the pieces where there, but it hasn't been used. I took apart the other one and serviced it myself (even though you're not "supposed" to) and it started working again. In the process, however, I saw my old machine and just had a "moment" with it. You may be thinking "this lady is nuts!" but it has sentimental value to me and I'm NOT going to give it up that easily. . . plus it still has the $500 worth of accessories that were bought or given to me over the years (like so many different feet you wouldn't believe!).

I used my machine in January because some friends of mine wanted me to make a mesh suit for him for the base of a Wookie costume. Yes, you have to latch-hook all the hair onto it, so the seams have to be very very strong. It was an interesting experience. I haven't worked with mesh before, so it's nice to know that my serger can do all the work and make it look nice in the process.

But that is all. Yep, all I've done. I think I've cut out about 5 projects, but they just keep getting piled one on top of the other with really no drive for me to do anything. There haven't been any movie or theatre projects coming my direction (but then again I really haven't been looking). I've bought more fabric than I care to really talk about---but I can't pass up getting over $2,000 worth of fabric for $150; even if it was the store's fault for pricing it too low and taking an additional 50% off the lowest price. Hey, I got to stock up--for what, I'm still not sure, but I'll have it.

Hopefully I'll be able to go down into my sewing room soon and be able to get behind my sewing machine and feel like I've actually accomplished something, but lately it just seems like it isn't worth it anymore. This sewing and costume stuff anyway.

Strange pairings

I like paring things that most people would think don't go together. Colors, textures, etc. I was sent this link this morning about an artist that paired a "dainty" corset with shoulder armor.

HOW did I not think of this?! I'm going to have to rethink a couple of costumes now. . . .